Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR
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With the overall rise in the use of medical imaging over the past two decades, overutilization has become a major concern. The ACR Appropriateness Criteria (AC) are an evidence-based, web-based, peer-reviewed resource designed to assist clinicians in making the most appropriate imaging decisions. In this literature review, the authors assess the current knowledge, utilization, and education of the AC among undergraduate and graduate medical education trainees and practicing physicians in both radiologic and nonradiologic specialties. ⋯ The low rate of incorporation of the AC into clinical practice may reflect the lack of formal training in appropriate imaging order practices, specifically in the use of the AC, in both undergraduate and graduate medical education. The integration of the AC into decision support may reduce overutilization, but this has not been fully studied. Greater integration of the AC into medical training would require more universal physician buy-in to use the AC as a resource to optimize imaging utilization. This further requires sustained efforts to improve the "user-friendliness" of the AC and maximization of collaboration with nonradiology specialties in the development of the AC.